ANALYSIS OF ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS IN GRAIN STORAGE

Poor storage systems lead to losses of up to 50% of stored grain. Grains are stored by various systems in the value chain, which include piles on the ground, bag storage in ware houses, on the cob storage in cribs and bulk storage in silos and bankers. The cost of storage depends on the duration and quantity of storage. This also dictates if construction or renting the same as viable. The BCR (Benefit Cost Ratio) between construction and renting in a large scale is 0.7261. Renting is cheaper in large scale. Cost of storing in bulk storage in a silo is $ 2.95 per tonne in a year and $0.497 per kg per annum in a bag storage. This paper discusses the technical and economic merits of the various grain storage systems and provided proposals for development of storage systems which will enhance food security in developing counties.